Student art on display at museum

Wednesday, April 4, 2012By Lindsay Reed

Creative student pieces on display
Democrat Photo/Lindsay Reed
Area residents are invited to visit the student art exhibit currently on display at the Barry County Museum south of Cassville. The art show features pieces created by Cassville, Southwest, Exeter and Wheaton students.

Artwork created by Cassville, Southwest, Exeter and Wheaton students will be on display at the Barry County Museum, located on Highway 112 south of Cassville, through May 5. Area community members are invited to visit the museum to view the exhibit.

"The art show allows members of the community who maybe do not have children in our schools the opportunity to enjoy the creativity of our youth," said Charla Curry, Cassville art teacher. "To me, there is nothing more precious than seeing a child's art. It has a quality of innocence that an adult cannot duplicate."

Wheaton art teacher Valerie Ball said the exhibit also allows students to express their personalities and talents in an area other than sports or academics.

"For some students, this participation may be the only chance to display their creation at a show," said Ball.

"These students are really proud of their work and what they can do," said Freda Wolf, Southwest art teacher. "It is good for the community to have the opportunity to support the students too."

Wolf said she is especially excited about this year's exhibit, which allows several local schools to work together to offer an extensive show with a variety of pieces.

"As an art instructor, I am grateful we have the opportunity to display our artist renditions outside the classroom," said Ball. "It is a great motivation for students to know their art may be chosen for an audience."

Students who visit the art show will be invited to pose for a photo with their artwork. Each student will receive one free four-inch by six-inch print.

"I want to thank the museum for this opportunity," said Wolf. "It is a good way for these students to experience a show for the first time."

"It is a big deal for our little guys to have something outside of the school they can attend that showcases their abilities," said Curry. "They are very excited in being chosen to represent their grade levels and classes."

Cassville kindergarten student artwork on display at the museum includes geometric texture castles, bubble fish paintings and cubism pieces. First grade artworks are scarecrows, self-portraits and cubism pieces, and second grade work includes family portraits, tangled owls and paintings inspired by Demuth's "Figure 5 in Gold."

Southwest kindergarten and middle school students submitted two dimensional drawings and paintings with ocean life and animals in their environments.

Wheaton first through eighth grade student artwork included in the show feature graphite, watercolor, colored pencil and batik pieces.

In addition to the student art exhibit, a vintage toy collection, Red Heads Basketball Display, an extraordinary characters of Roaring River exhibit and an assortment of other collections are currently on display at the museum.